Pyrophoric lighter arrangement



March 15, 1938.

PYROPHORI C LIGHTER ARRANGEMENT Filed Feb. 5, 1956 (mum! ml lowlyVAronson v. ARONSON 2,111,523 7 in assembled relation.

Patented Mar. 15, 1938 PATENT 'oF ica PYROPHORIC LIGHTER, ABRANGEMELouis V. Aronson, Newark, N. J., assignor to Art Metal Works, Inc, acorporation of New Jer-- sey Application February 5, 1936, Serial No.82,401

4 Claims. '(01. 67-71) My invention relates to a pyrophoric lighterarrangement comprising a pair of casings pivoted together in end-to-endrelation.

My invention has further reference to an actuating pawl for a pyrophoriclighter, such pawl being of novel construction and serving as a lockwasher for maintaining parts of a snuifer cap In amore specific sense,my invention relates to a pyrophoric lighter arrangement comprising apair of casings pivotally connected to ether so that said casings may beextended in end-toend relation or, when the lighter arrangement is notto be used, telescoped one within the other so as to form a compactdevice of small dimensions.

Various other objects, advantages and characteristics of my inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description.

My invention resides in the pyrophoric lighter arrangement, pivotedcasing construction, combinations and features of the characterhereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one ofthe many forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the pyrophoric lighterarrangement of my invention with the casings in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the pyrophoric -lighter withthe casings in open po sition;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2; r

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of thepyrophoric lighter arrangement of Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating the construction interlorly ofthe snuifer lever; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing my novel actuating pawl.

Referring to the drawing, F represents a fuel casing having a bottomwallI and a top wall 2, this fuel casing containing a mass 3 of cotton orother suitable absorbent material for ,fuel which may be introduced intosaid fuel casing in suitable manner, as through a filling openingnormally closed by a closure cap 4.

The top wall 2 of said casing F is adapted to support pyrophoriclighting mechanism of any suitable character. As herein shown, thismechanism comprises a pair of standards 5, 5a upstanding from the topcasing wall 2, these standards supporting a horizontal axle member 6which, by peeping, may be anchored in fixed horizontal position in thestandards 5, 5a.

Freely rotatable on the axle member 6 are a pair of side-by-side wheels1 and 8, the wheel I being serrated on its outer peripheral surface andthe wheel 8 being a ratchet wheel, these two wheels being securedtogether for rotatable movement as a unit. Disposed on the respectiveouter sides of the wheels I, 8 are the pinions 9, 8a, these beingsecured, respectively, to the depending wall surfaces Illa of a snuiferlever l8 pivotally mounted on said axle member 6. Suitably secured tothe outer end of the snuffer lever Hi, as by a screw II, is a snuffercap i2 coactable, in a sealing manner, with the upper end of a wick tubel8 which is brazed or .otherwise suitably secured to said top wall 2,this wick tube supporting the outer end of a wick l4 extendinginteriorlymf the fuel casing F and absorbing fuel from the mass ofcotton 3. In

a preferred manner, as hereinafter described, the snuifer lever ID hassecured thereto a pawl i5 which coacts with the aforesaid ratchet wheelI. g

As shown, an operating member I8 is provided, this operating membercomprising racks l1, Iia which mesh with the respective pinions 9, 9aand said operating member comprising a finger piece l8 from which atubular member It depends, Fig. '4.v Carried by and fixed to the casingwall 2 is a second tubular member 28 which telescopically receives saidtubular member IS, a suitable I heiical'spring 2| being providedinteriorly of said tubular members for the purpose of biasing the fingerpiece I8 upwardly, Fig. 4.

Coactable with the serrated wheel I is a pyrophoric element 22 whichprojects from the upper end of a tube 23 extending through and anchoredin the fuel casing F, said pyrophoric element 22 being biased intoengagement with the serrated wheel I by a helical spring 24 .disposedwithin said tube 23, the spring 24 being maintained under compression bya nut 25 threaded into the endof the tube 23, said nut 25 preferablyhaving a head 25a utilizable as appear, the shape of the lighterarrangement just described constitutes an important feature of theinvention.

In accordance with another important characteristic of the invention,the fuel casing and associated lighter mechanism as just described areadapted to be enclosed by a casing C which, as shown, is approximatelyof V-confi'guration substantially in accordance with the configurationof the fuel casing F and associated parts. This casing C comprises frontand rear walls 26, 26a, the lower surfaces of which are joined by abottom wall 21 from which rises a wall 28 closing the casing C at oneend thereof, said wall 28 being of suitable ornate configuration andcarrying, if desired, a ring 28a through which a suitable suspendingcord, not shown, may be looped orpassed. The casing C is open at the topthereof, Figs. 2 and 4, and the configuration of this opening is suchthat the fuelcasing F and associated lighter parts may be disposedtherewithin in the manner hereinafter described.

In accordance with the invention, the end of the casing C opposite theend wall 28 is open for the reception of the smaller end of the fuelcasing F and, in such end-to-end relation, the two casings are pivotedby a member 29 which extends through a sleeve-like passage formed trans-30 versely through but sealed from the interior of the fuel casing F,Fig. 4. The two casings C and F are shown in normal open relation inFig. 4. When .thus positioned, the end surface 21a of the bottom wall 21of casing C is in engagement with a shouldered surface la of the bottomfuel casing wall I. These two surfaces form stop meanspreventing furthermovement of the casing C in a counter-clockwise direction with respectto the casing F, or clockwise movement of said casing F with respect tothe casing C, Fig. 4. 1

However, as clearly appears from a consideration of the drawing, thecasing C may be held more or less stationary in one hand while, with theother .hand, the fuel casing F is swung in a counterclockwise direction,Fig. 4, so that it enters and passes into the casing C to thereby formthe compact folded device shown in Fig. 1 wherein the fuel casing bottomwall I is flush with the edges of the walls 26, 26a of the casing C.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the head 25a of the nut 25 is adapted to entera slot 28b formed in the upper section of the end wall 20 of the casingC. Accordingly, when the device is folded as shown in Fig. 1, saidcasing C may be held in the 55 left hand and the head 25a of the nut 25engaged by one finger or the thumb of the other'hand so as to readilyswing the fuel casing F to the position illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4wherein the stopsurfaces la, 21a are in engagement so as to define anapproximate straight-line relation of said casings C and F. l

when thus positioned, the finger piece I 8 may be depressed against theresistance offered by the spring 2| whereby the snuffer lever I0 is 5swung in a clockwise direction, Fig. 4. In so do- .ing, the pawl Iiengages the ratchet wheel I and imparts a step or clockwise movement,Fig. 4,

to said ratchet wheel and tothe serrated wheel 1 whereby a shower ofsparks are produced, these 0 sparks being projected toward the nowexposed end of the wick II and igniting the charge of fuel carriedthereby soas to produce a freely burning flame which may be utilized forthe lighting of cigars, cigarettes, or other ignition 75 pin-posesas'desired. when the flame thus Produced has served its intendedpurpose, the finger piece l8 may be released whereupon the previouslycompressed spring 2| returns the parts to their respective positions asillustrated. At this time the device may be returned to its foldedcondition as shown in Fig. 1.

Although, in a. preferredform of the invention as shown, the head Zia ofthe member 25 holding the spring 24 under compression is used as amanipulating knob, it shall be understood that other forms of theinvention need not be thus limited. As well, if desired, this actuatinghead or knob, when utilized, may be otherwise formed.

As clearly appears from a consideration of Figs. 1-4 inclusive, a deviceof the character described is simple from a mechanical viewpoint,eflicient in operation, and clean-cut in an ornamental sense. The foldeddevice as shown in Fig. 1 is of small dimensions well adapted to becarried about in a garment pocket or, preferably, in a hand bag. Whenthe two casings are in their respective non-folded positions as shown inFigs.

'2, 3 and 4, the length of the device is suflicient to insure eflicientoperation of the lighter mechanism. Further, the unfolding and foldingopera-, tions may readily be performed and they require but the work ofa moment. All of the foregoing advantages and others will be obvious andapparent to those skilled in the part.

Referringto Figs. 5 and 6, the hereinbefore described pawl ii isillustrated as comprising a ring-section lia which is split as indicatedat lib so as to define the pawl section lie and an adjacent section lid,the end of the pawl section l5c engaging the mtchet wheel 8. The pawl i5is formed from spring steel and, asshown in Fig. 6, I

the sections lic, lid are angularly related to the plane of the ringsection I in. The latter, as

shown in Fig. 4, is disposed between the top of. the snufi'er lever Illand the adjacent surface of the wick cap l2, and the screw H is passedthrough the opening defined by the ring-section lia when said screw isthreaded into the wick cap l2. Therefore, the pawl ring sectionlid andthe spaced projecting sections iic, lid thereof function as a lockwasher when the screw II is tightened in its final position, and saidprojecting sections serve to said screw ll.

It shall be understood that the pawl arrangement just described isadvantageous and of general applicatiom Such pawl arrangement isutilizable with pyrophoric lighters generally and is not to be limitedto use with a pyrophoric lighter arrangement of the particular formherein described. Moreover, it is to be understood that the pawlarrangements other than of the character just described may be utilizedwith the pivoted casing type of lighter herein illustrated anddescribed.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certainparticular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it willbe underprevent undesired loosening of stood by those skilled in the artafter understanding the invention, that various changes and modisaidsnuiIer cap to said snufier lever," and a lock washer between saidsnufier cap and said snuifer lever, said lock'washer comprising anintegral spring steel member, split to form two sections resilientlydiverging, respectively, in opposite directions from the plane of saidwasher proper, one of said sections forming a pawl for actuating saidsparking means and the other of said sections coacting directly with theinterior surface of said snufier lever, edges of said sectionsrespectively extending along and closely adjacent said depending sidewalls whereby said lock washer and said pawl formed thereon are retainedagainst turning in respect to said screw.

2. In combination, a fuel casing, pyrophoric lighting mechanism mountedthereon, said mechanism including an abrada'nt wheel, a pyrophoricmember, atube for receiving said member, said tube extending from apoint adjacent said wheel through said casing, spring means in said tubefor urging said pyrophoric member into contact with said wheel, andscrew means protruding from said tube at its end opposite from saidwheel and and mechanism thereon, in respect to the closure.

3. In combination, a pair of casings pivoted together and adapted to bemoved into end to end relation, one of said casings comprising a fuelcasing, pyrophoric lighting mechanism mounted on said fuel casing,manually depressible means for operating said mechanism, said operatingmeans being mounted on said fuel casing at its end opposite from thepivot, said mechanism, operating means and fuel casing together being ofa substantially V-shaped-conflguration, having its apex adjacent thepivot, and the other of said casings comprising a closure ofsubstantially V- shaped configuration, also having its apex adjacent thepivot and adapted to be rotated about the pivot to enclose saidmechanism, operating means and fuel casing.

4. In combination, a pair of casings having approximately the samelength and being formed from sheet material, one of said casings being afuel casing, and pyrophoric lighting mechanism associated with said fuelcasing, said light- I ing mechanism comprising awick and a sparking nismand for said fuel casing, said casings being

